The bullpen strength is the trouble here imo... They will relentlessly blow winnable games and rob great performances by the SP. Lindstrom throws hard as hell, but he doesnt stay healthy for long... He already aggravated something in ST...Look for the attrition to hit their pen... Besides that, I like the marlins offense..
:cheers:
Marlins BP will be a mess to start the season:
Florida Marlins' bullpen positions still in doubt
With only 17 days to go until Opening Day, the Marlins' relief roles still are being worked out.
BY CLARK SPENCER
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cspencer@MiamiHerald.com
<!-- end /production/story/credit_line_format.comp --> KISSIMMEE -- Don't ask Logan Kensing to come up with a list of the seven names he believes will form the Marlins' bullpen. Like pretty much everyone else, Kensing is clueless.
''If you can name the bullpen right now, you're better off than I am,'' said Kensing, who is contending for one of the spots.
With just 17 days left before Opening Day, the composition of the bullpen is anyone's guess.
Mark Wiley, when asked to describe the bullpen situation at the moment, rolled his eyes to indicate sarcasm as he replied: ``Really good.''
Injuries have taken a toll on part of the relief staff. Uncertainty surrounds the rest.
Closer Matt Lindstrom is on the shelf with rotator cuff inflammation.
Setup man Scott Proctor is idled with loose scar tissue in his surgically repaired right elbow.
If Lindstrom isn't ready to go April 6 when the Marlins kick off the season against the Washington Nationals, the Marlins are expected to hand the ninth-inning role to Leo Nunez.
SOME UNCERTAINTY
Last time Nunez logged a save in pro ball? It was 2006, at Triple A Omaha (Neb.).
''I think there's a lot of uncertainty, more question marks than usual,'' said Kensing, who is marking his fifth spring training with the Marlins at the major-league level. ``Usually you come into camp and you know six of the seven [relievers who will make up the bullpen].''
But what already was a difficult task -- projecting the bullpen -- got even tougher when Lindstrom and Proctor fell by the wayside, even if temporarily.
Nunez is a lock. And Renyel Pinto would appear to have the edge for one of the two bullpen openings for lefties. After that, it gets tricky.
Taylor Tankersley, Dan Meyer and nonroster invitee John Koronka are in the mix to determine the other left-hander spot.
''That's a battle royale,'' Kensing said.
Of that group, Koronka has had the best spring, allowing one earned run in six relief outings. But Koronka has received most of his action as a starter during his 11 pro seasons.
Meyer has allowed two runs in his five outings this spring, and Tankersley has struggled, giving up 11 earned runs in seven appearances.
The picture isn't any clearer with the right-handers.
Kensing is among the group of leading candidates that also includes Kiko Calero, Frankie De La Cruz, Carlos Martinez, Ryan Tucker and -- assuming they don't jump into the fray for a rotation spot -- Burke Badenhop and Rick VandenHurk.
''There's no definitive line where I can put guys,'' Kensing said. ``Plus, we have two guys hurt now, with Stormy [Lindstrom] maybe being on the shelf and Proctor probably being on the shelf. That's two spots that are open that weren't open before.''
Wiley said the customary time in spring training to ''work on things'' for pitchers has passed.
''They're more in a show-me process at this point,'' Wiley said. ``Somebody's got to post up. We're looking for some people that we can establish a bullpen. But we've got a few guys we think can fit in well, and everybody else is kind of in the same boat, being critiqued every time they go out there.''
NO INJURY CONCERNS
Wiley isn't concerned with the injuries to Lindstrom and Proctor, even if neither is ready to start the season.
''There's no rushing,'' Wiley said. ``We want to make sure the guys are right, and we're not going to rush anybody in to anything.''
What does concern Wiley -- annoys him -- has been the failure this spring of his pitchers to throw strikes.
He said he will likely address the staff on that specific issue in a pitchers-only meeting.
''Everybody's going to have a bad outing now and then,'' Wiley said. ``But when you're walking people, and you're pitching behind all the time, and you're a left-hander and you're not getting left-handers out, we're looking at that pretty strong.
``I don't think it matters to us who posts up. We just want somebody to do it.''
